SupplyChainX | Democracy In Action

01.18.17

The peaceful transfer of power is a tenet of our democracy, and a tremendous logistical undertaking.

Of the 3,000 events that take place on Washington’s National Mall each year, none requires more advanced work and complex preparation than the Presidential Inaugural Ceremonies. Hundreds of thousands (and in rare cases, millions) of people descend upon the Capitol every four years or eight years to observe the peaceful transition of power. For this symbol of democracy to run smoothly, it takes tremendous effort and coordination from the government and military — and, of course, plenty of porta-potties to accommodate the dense crowds of spectators.

While always a huge undertaking, this year’s inauguration poses special challenges to logisticians tasked with planning the event.

Committees Galore

When it comes to government, there’s a committee for everything — including the inauguration. In fact, D.C. law enforcement partners have created 25 subcommittees to plan for security alone.

Coordinating safety and logistics for the high-profile event is largely handled by the Joint Task Force - National Capital Region 58th Presidential Inauguration (JTF - NCR). Managing millions of crowds, protesters, and personnel, the Joint Task Force and the D.C. National Guard had to think “big” while planning routes. In fact, officials use a 60 by 40 foot map of the city, complete with 3D models of Washington landmarks, to plan for movements of guards, officials, and parades.

In addition to aiding with security measures behind the scenes, the task force will contribute 5,000 uniformed participants to the inaugural parade and ceremonies. While members of the task force march, 7,000 national guardsmen and 3,000 law enforcement officials from around the country will provide logistical support and crowd control.

Other committees focus on event proceedings; The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, for example, exclusively plans Capitol Hill events. But it’s the Presidential Inaugural Committee, appointed by President-elect Trump himself, that has the final authority in cementing the inauguration schedule. After raising $90 million, Trump’s committee prepares to hold a 90-minute parade and three balls. Trump promises it will be a “very, very elegant day.”

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A Solid Foundation

To prepare for the inauguration, many of D.C.’s transportation routes will be impassable during the day’s events. With costs adding up to a projected $30 million, certain roads and Metro stations will be closed, the Arlington Memorial Bridge will only be open to pedestrians, and the city will be full of temporary chain-link fences.

In addition to these broader, citywide accommodations, the most symbolic structural element of the ceremonies is the Inauguration Platform, upon which the President-elect will take the oath of office and deliver his inaugural address.

Physical construction of the 10,000 square foot platform starts from scratch each year with the First Nail Ceremony, held this cycle on September 21, 2016. To kick off proceedings, leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives hammered the first nails into the platform. From there, construction of the platform constituted quite the undertaking. Trees were uprooted, a fountain was temporarily filled in, and some marble was removed to allow 1,600 people to fit on stage. In addition, bleachers above the platform were constructed to hold 1,000 additional spectators.

Of course, not all 800,000 projected visitors can fit on the bleachers. Ever since President Reagan's inauguration in 1981, the platform has faced the west side of the Capitol so spectators can watch the proceedings from the National Mall.

An Exceptional Inauguration

The government and military aren’t the only groups planning for the inauguration. At least a dozen protest groups will be in D.C. that weekend as well, most notably the Women’s March on Washington. A project that began with a Facebook group, the Women’s March on Washington has since grown into a formidable movement with 200,000 protesters set to attend.

In anticipation of crowds that may swell up to 400,000 on January 20, law enforcement will keep personnel in place through Saturday. Christopher T. Geldert, the Director of Homeland Security for the District of Columbia, told the New York Times, “We’re basically not going to stand anything down after the inauguration. We’re leaving that stuff in place,” referring to the police and National Guard.

All in all, this inauguration — similarly to this election — is likely to be different than the ones that came before. Putting together such a large, visible event takes bipartisan cooperation and an efficient chain of command.